Publication Date

2007

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Abstract

This study explored how culture influences the grieving process. This study was undertaken in part to expand on the limited research on this topic. Some of the literature, including various studies, indicates that social context affects the experience and expression of grief (Catlin, 1992). Twelve individuals who had lost their "loved ones," defined by the researcher as a significant other, family member or close friend, at least two years but not longer than five years ago were interviewed for this study. Participation included answering questions regarding their experience of grief and various factors that influenced their grieving process. The results of this study showed that various feelings associated with and manifestations of grief are the same or similar regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or religion. In this study, each individual defined culture themselves, making it difficult to determine how much a more specific definition of "culture" might have affected their responses regarding its influence on the grieving process.

Comments

iii, 73 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67).

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